Illinois
Jackie Williamson: 2024 candidate for Illinois House District 47
Jackie Williamson
Bio
Party: Democrat
Office Sought: Illinois House District 47
City: Wheaton
Age: 36
Occupation: Benefits specialist
Previous offices held: Outreach Officer for the Democratic Party of Milton Township
How should the state respond to the influx of migrants bussed here from Southern states?
As I’ve been knocking on doors, I hear a lot of different opinions and perspectives — including a range of thoughts on immigration issues. But not one single person believes busing people across the country like cargo for political gain is a solution.
People in our communities want to focus on what we can control. Illinois cannot change border policy or the international factors that are driving migration.
The federal government can and should act, but a bipartisan border bill was derailed by MAGA politicians who again wanted to create problems to score political points, rather than solve problems.
Meanwhile, what Illinois can control is whether our communities have the resources they need to deal with the governor of Texas’ reckless games. I want to work with our community leaders, compassionate service organizations, and law enforcement to ensure they have all the resources they need from the state, so none of these costs are passed on to homeowners already facing high property taxes.
Are you satisfied with the state’s existing ethics policies for senators and representatives? If so, what about the policies should reassure Illinoisans that elected leaders abide by high standards? If not, what changes need to be made?
My background in Human Resources has given me a keen understanding of ethics and how important it is that the people we trust to represent us, hold themselves to a higher standard. We’ve seen at the local level, state level, and federal level how some bad actors will always look to exploit loopholes in the system for their own benefit. We need to identify and close those loopholes before we read about them in the paper.
Ultimately, real meaningful change and building trust has to come from elected officials themselves. People want to feel like those representing them actually care. That starts with showing up to community meetings, being accessible to folks, and continually meeting and talking to community stakeholders. Every day in my current role and on the campaign, I am doing those things to ensure that the people I work for and with, know that I will always have their best interests in mind.
Would you support a requirement that election petitions include a line asking candidates for their campaign email address?
I would support this initiative. I believe that those seeking office should be accessible to voters.
How well do you think criminal justice reforms made in recent years are working? What, if any, changes need to be made?
First and foremost, any criminal justice legislation must include input from communities, law enforcement, and all other important stakeholders. We need to ensure our police have the tools they need right now to keep us safe, while also funding the resources that address the root causes of crime.
But too often politicians want to talk tough about crime during election years and then find a tired excuse to vote against funding for our police, for mental health, and for violence prevention when it’s time to put their money where their mouth is. Our safety isn’t a political game to me.
That’s why I’m going to support efforts to put more officers on our streets and keep our great officers on the job. That’s why I’m also going to prioritize education, mental health, and resources that build strong, safe communities.
We now have an assault weapons ban in Illinois. What if any changes should be made to the law? What more can be done to improve gun safety?
It seems like almost every day we hear another tragic story of someone affected by gun violence. This IS a preventable issue and there are still a number of ways we can improve gun safety in Illinois.
I strongly support the assault rifle weapons ban that Illinois recently passed and believe that to continue to stop the threat of gun violence in our state, we need to pass Karina’s Bill, which would protect victims of domestic violence from gun violence. We again must also address the root cause of what would lead people to violence. I know that if we invest in our communities, we will see a reduction in gun violence.
Illinois is the only state in the nation that mandates regular behind-the-wheel tests for senior drivers. Do you support any changes?
Ensuring our streets are safe for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians is paramount. I know that this is an issue that has come up frequently in the past legislative session. I would like to talk to all stakeholders in the conversation and ensure whatever we do does not put a burden on our seniors and also keeps everyone safe.
What personal qualifications do you bring that would make you an effective legislator?
My professional background is in human resources. In a nutshell, I listen to folks and work with them to find solutions every day. I hear directly from hardworking individuals about issues affecting their lives, such as limited access to health care, high food and gas prices, and insufficient paychecks.
Being a part of these conversations is what inspired me to run to represent our DuPage County communities. Listening to how my employees are struggling has brought me to want to bring my skills to the state legislature to listen to folks and find solutions that help the community.
Illinois’ win over Penn State at The Palestra was anything but flawless. A horrid shooting night and a stagnant offensive performance – specifically when freshman guard Keaton Wagler was off the floor – characterized the whole affair.
Defensively, the Illini were fairly stout, but they gave up far too many second-chance opportunities to the Nittany Lions – who parlayed 14 offensive rebounds into 16 second-chance points.
But to steal a win on the road – technically, the game was played in neutral-site Philadelphia – against a Big Ten opponent is an accomplishment in itself. (It was just lowly Penn State, you say? Tell that to Michigan, which squeaked by the Nittany Lions by two on Tuesday night.)
In a college basketball season of more than 30 games, it’s inevitable that a two-hour window will overlap here and there when the shots simply don’t fall – no matter how open the looks are. That happened on Saturday, yet the Illini still triumphed.
That’s glass half full. The glass-half-empty perspective goes something like this: putting up 73 points on 39.3 percent shooting against a Penn State team that entered the game outside of the top 200 in defensive efficiency (per KenPom) is embarrassing. And as a team that prides itself on controlling the glass, giving up 14 offensive rebounds to the Nittany Lions is entirely unacceptable.
Where Illinois landed in ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s latest bracketology
Perhaps ESPN’s Joe Lunardi is a pessimist, as that latter line of rationale could be the only possible explanation for his decision in Tuesday’s edition of Bracketology. In it, he dropped the Illini a seed line, moving them down from a three seed to a four seed.
Since Lunardi’s previous update, Illinois has played exactly one game – against Penn State. Were the Illini really exposed that badly in Philly? In any case, they have two full months to bolster their resume, and the Big Ten schedule provides plenty of prime opportunities: In the next 32 days alone, the Illini have road meetings at No. 19 Iowa, No. 5 Purdue, No. 10 Nebraska – a key chance at vengeance – and No. 12 Michigan State.
Split those contests and Illinois may find itself sitting firmly as a three seed. Win three out of four and the Illini are suddenly a borderline two seed. But until they prove themselves with a few more statement victories, it appears they will be stuck as a four – an excellent “consolation” prize for the time being.
Every Big Ten team in Joe Lunardi’s bracketology for ESPN
Ohio State (No. 11 seed)
Indiana (No. 10)
UCLA (No. 9)
USC (No. 8)
Iowa (No. 6)
Michigan State (No. 4)
Illinois (No. 4)
Nebraska (No. 3)
Purdue (No. 2)
Michigan (No. 1)
Illinois
Trump administration freezing $10 billion in social service funding for Illinois, four other blue states
The Trump administration plans to halt $10 billion in federal funding for child care assistance, low income and social service funds in Illinois and four other Democrat-led states, alleging unspecified “massive amounts of fraud.”
The pause in funding comes about a week after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it was freezing child care funds in Minnesota and asking for an audit of day care centers amid allegations of fraud by day care centers run by Somali residents. In announcing that freeze, HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said there is “blatant fraud” in Minnesota “and across the country.”
Minnesota, New York, California, Illinois and Colorado will be cut off from $7 billion in funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which provides cash assistance for households with children, nearly $2.4 billion for the Child Care and Development Fund, which helps support working parents with child care and around $870 million for social services grants that help children at risk, according to an HHS official.
It marks the latest in a series of pauses in federal funding to Illinois that began when Trump took office last January, including social service, infrastructure and climate-related dollars.
“For too long, Democrat-led states and Governors have been complicit in allowing massive amounts of fraud to occur under their watch,” HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon said in a statement. “Under the Trump Administration, we are ensuring that federal taxpayer dollars are being used for legitimate purposes. We will ensure these states are following the law and protecting hard-earned taxpayer money.”
The Illinois Department of Health and Human Services on Monday said it had not received any official communication or notification about impacts to federal funding.
“This is yet another politically-motivated action by the Trump Administration that confuses families and leaves states with more questions than answers,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “IDHS will provide an update if it is made aware of program or funding changes.”
The department did not immediately comment on Tuesday afternoon.
Matt Hill, spokesman for Gov. JB Pritzker, criticized the funding threat in a post on X.
“The Trump team is throwing around background quotes, governing by press release, and causing mass confusion for families who need child care,” Hill wrote. “Illinois has NOT been notified of these funds being canceled. Stop politicizing child care and instead make it more affordable.”
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is running for the U.S. Senate in the March 17 Democratic primary, called the pending freeze “deeply disturbing.”
“Such a move wouldn’t punish bad actors — it would harm working parents and children who rely on these programs. As someone who grew up on essential social programs when my family got knocked down, I know firsthand how life-changing that support can be,” Krishnamoorthi said in a statement. “At a time when Illinois families are already facing an affordability crisis, the Trump Administration should not undermine support that helps parents remain in the workforce or play petty politics with the well-being of America’s families.”
Trump has deployed at least 2,000 federal agents to Minnesota amid a welfare fraud scandal. Federal prosecutors in December said half of more than roughly $18 billion in federal funds that supported Minnesota programs since 2018 may have been stolen, the Associated Press reported.
Trump has used the fraud scandal to target the Somali population in Minnesota. A social media video posted by a right-wing influencer in late December reignited the fraud claims against daycare centers run by Somali people. Since then, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he wouldn’t seek re-election, citing “an organized group of political actors seeking to take advantage of the crisis.”
During a New Year’s Eve event, Trump claimed to reporters that fraud in Minnesota was “peanuts.”
“California is worse, Illinois is worse and, sadly, New York is worse — a lot of other places,” Trump said. “So, we’re going to get to the bottom of this.”
The drought is over! We repeat, the drought is over! Montana State has won the FCS Championship for the first time since 1984, breaking a 41-year drought.
The Bobcats won the 2025-26 FCS Championship with a 35-34 win over Illinois State in overtime, holding off the Redbirds in the an overtime classic.
After Illinois State scored two fourth quarter touchdowns, the Redbirds had a shot at a game-winning field goal with just over one minute to play. That’s when the kick was blocked! The game proceeded to overtime.
MADNESS IN NASHVILLE, ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?! 🫨
The field goal kick gets blocked by @MSUBobcats_FB, scooped up, and returned back to the 45-yard line of Illinois State. #FCSChampionship x 🎥 ESPN pic.twitter.com/apXWzNehjH
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 6, 2026
In overtime, Illinois State got the ball first and scored a touchdown to take the lead. That’s when the extra-point try was blocked as special teams miscues proved costly for Illinois State.
REDBIRDS STRIKE FIRST IN OVERTIME ⚡️
Dylan Lord scores his second touchdown of the game to give @RedbirdFB the lead. #FCSChampionship x 🎥 ESPN pic.twitter.com/cE9621nX2Y
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 6, 2026
However, Montana State still had to respond with a touchdown of their own. Facing 4th-and-10, quarterback Justin Lamson hit wide receiver Taco Dowler for the game-tying score. To win the game, Colby Frokjer knocked in the game-winning PAT.
TACO DOWLER TOUCHDOWN 🚨🚨🚨
Lamson connects with Dowler in the end zone for an overtime @MSUBobcats_FB touchdown. #FCSChampionship x 🎥 ESPN pic.twitter.com/gBdNnha0PR
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 6, 2026
The game-winning touchdown earned Lamson Most Outstanding Player honors. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns, rushing for 30 yards and two scores.
“There’s not many moments that are gonna be better than this.”@MSUBobcats_FB’s @justin_lamson10 reflects on bringing back the first title in 41 years back to Bozeman with @stan_becton 🏆 #FCSChampionship pic.twitter.com/2UQuvtKXO2
— NCAA FCS Football (@NCAA_FCS) January 6, 2026
It’s the first championship of the Brent Vigen era in Bozeman as the head coach lifts the trophy for the first in his third championship game appearance. The win is also the Big Sky’s first over the MVFC in a championship game, bringing the all time record to 4-1.
Full finish: CHAOTIC Q4 ending, FIRST-EVER FCS title game overtime
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